U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the termination of trade discussions with Canada following an Ontario government advertisement that features former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s words to convey an anti-tariff message to an American audience. This development adds to the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries, where Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken a more confrontational stance compared to federal officials.
The decision by Trump to halt negotiations was unexpected for the Carney government, according to sources. It is reported that Trump’s reaction to the ad was genuine and not a strategic move in negotiations.
The advertisement, part of a $75 million campaign launched by the Ontario government, uses Reagan’s 1987 radio address emphasizing the negative impacts of high tariffs and trade wars. Despite the original address mentioning specific U.S. tariffs on Japan, the ad’s focus is on Reagan’s broader views on tariffs. The ad concludes with a visual of Reagan delivering the speech.
On October 21, reports surfaced suggesting that Canada and the U.S. were close to a deal to alleviate sectoral tariffs such as those on Canadian steel and aluminum. However, Trump’s reaction to the Ontario ad seemed to escalate tensions, leading to the abrupt halt in negotiations.
In response to the backlash over the ad’s content, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that the advertisement will cease airing after the upcoming weekend to allow trade talks to resume. The premier emphasized that the ad successfully reached high-level American audiences and will continue to be broadcast during the first two World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.